Ben Wade

American baseball player (1922 2002)

Benjamin Styron Wade (November 25, 1922 – December 2, 2002) was an American professional baseball player who became a longtime director of scouting operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers during a period that saw the team win four world championships. He played in Major League Baseball as a right handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1948), Brooklyn Dodgers (1952–54), St. Louis Cardinals (1954) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1955). Wade batted and threw right handed.

Wade was born in Morehead City, North Carolina on November 25, 1922. When he was discharged from military service in February 1945, he resumed playing professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliate, the Anniston Rams of the Southeastern League. He didn't appear in the 1952 World Series as the Dodgers lost to the New York Yankees in a seven game series. In 1953, Wade had a 7–5 win–loss record along with a 3.79 earned run average as a relief pitcher, helping the Dodgers win their second consecutive National League pennant. In the only post season appearance of his major league career, Wade gave up four runs in two appearances during the 1953 World Series as, the Dodgers once again lost to the New York Yankees in six games. He played in his final major league game on June 12, 1955, at the age of 32.

Wade was hired by the Dodgers as a scout in 1962 and he was promoted to director of scouting in 1973. As the Dodgers director of scouting, he supplied the team with players that would lead it to eight National League championships and four World Series titles during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.